In the mission to support the law enforcement leaders of today and develop the leaders of tomorrow, the IACP is constantly involved in advocacy, programs, research, and initiatives related to cutting-edge issues. This column keeps you up to date on IACP’s work to support our members and the field of law enforcement.

Big Ideas for Smaller Law Enforcement Agencies

The Big Ideas for Smaller Law Enforcement Agencies newsletter is a free electronic publication specifically designed to address topics relevant to law enforcement agencies with 25 or fewer officers. Each issue highlights engaging law enforcement topics and resources pertinent to smaller agencies; for example, the Winter 2014 edition focused on officer-involved shootings.

Newsletter subscribers receive an email notification with a link to the new issue. The newsletter can be printed if a hard copy is desired or shared electronically with colleagues and friends. To receive the e-newsletter, you must register.

The IACP, with assistance from BJA, launched its Center for Social Media in October 2010. The goal of the initiative is to build the law enforcement capacity to use social media to prevent and solve crimes, strengthen police-community relations, and enhance services. IACP’s Center for Social Media serves as a clearinghouse of information and no-cost resources to help law enforcement personnel develop or enhance their agencies’ use of social media and integrate Web 2.0 tools into agency operations.

Resources on the center’s site include The Social Media Beat, a blog about social media applications to policing and related issues; news items about social media and policing; the Chiefs’ Corner for police leadership; and links to studies, publications, tools, facts, and more.

Over just three days in July 2013, local, state, and federal law enforcement officers conducted simultaneous operations in 76 cities and towns across the United States which resulted in the rescue of 105 child victims of domestic sex trafficking and the arrests of 150 of their traffickers.

The IACP, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is working to improve the ability of law enforcement officers in the field to recognize and respond to domestic child sex trafficking. IACP is creating resources to enable officers to recognize and apply indicators of child sex trafficking in the field. The IACP Toolkit, expected to be launched in October 2014, will include a series of standalone, scenario-based roll call training videos targeted to frontline officers that will come with a tip card and discussion guide; a law enforcement training manual; a community awareness video; a new online training course; a wallet/pocket card; a fact sheet; and promising practices briefs. ♦For more information, visit www.theiacp.org/childtrafficking.

From The Police Chief, vol. LXXXI, no. 4, April 2014. Copyright held by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 515 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 USA.

The official publication of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The online version of the Police Chief Magazine is possible through a grant from the IACP Foundation. To learn more about the IACP Foundation, click here.